Creek



No. 692,665. Patented Feb. 4, |902. V. G. HILLS J. EJCHAPSUN. REEL FURTAPE MEASURES.

(Applicatiorn led Oct. 2, 900.)

(In Modal.)

w/rNEssEs UNITED STATE-s #PATENT rjricn.-

vxoron'cARDINER HILLS AND JOHN EDWARD CHAPSON, or .CRIPPLE- CREEK, ooLonADo.

Rsi-:L Fon TAPE-MEASURES.

To a'ZZ :cham it may concern: Be it knownthat we, VICTOR Gaannms HILLsand -JoHnEnWAnD Cnsrson, citizens of the United States, and residents ot Cripplecreek, in the county of Teller'and State of Colorado, haveiiuvented new and ,useful Improvements in Reels for Tape-Measures, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 4

'The object of the invention is to provide a ynew and improved reel more especially designed to permit the use of a long narrow piece of steel tape, band, or a' wire and arranged to allow a'ready nnwinding or winding of the tape, band, or wire without danger' of. the

wound-up port-ion accidentally uncoilingtroin the reel, as it has a-tendfency to do from its own elastici ty or otherwise when tensionis re'- lraxed from the nnwound portion...

. The invention consista of novel featn res and parte and combinations of the saine, as will' be fully described hereinafter and 'then poin tsimilar characters of reference. indicate corresponding parts in nll the views. ,l

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional side'elevation of transverse section of thesame on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is aplan view of the same with the tape and the follower in section.

Thel reel A] on which winds a tape B', is' mounted to turn on a solid or hollow spindle C, projecting from airame D, preferably in the shape ofa bar extending along the-'rear'- -faoe of the rcel, so that the front face thereof is free and completely unobstructed by said frame to permit the attachment to and the use of a orankE on'the front face of the reel'A for winding u-p or unwinding the tape B on said reel A. The reel A is provided with a cylindrical body A?, formed in its peripheral su rface with grooves A, andfsaid reel is also provided with perforated flanges A to allow circulation 'of air in the reel, and thereby pre vent the tape B from rusting in case it is wound np when moist or wet. This is of parfrmisg'pmtef mtem'atent No; ceases.' ma February 4, isos. Appllenns lita-ocute s. une. sum mismas.. un ma.;

' derstood thatthe portion of the tape which engages the body -A' of the reel bridges or spans the grooves A', thus leaving transverse airchannels,'as indicated in Fig. 2.' The inner end of the tape B projects into one of the grooves A and is secured to the wallthereof, as is plainlyindicated in Fig. 2.

- The' tape B is preferably of long narrow steel; but othersnitable material may be'elxiployed, it being understood, however, that the-reel is more especially designed for tapes of three hundred feet and upward. When liable to nncoil by its own elasticity or otherpwise when tensionis relaxed from the nnwonnd portion,- and in order to prevent this a follower E' is em` eyed, preferably in the shape ofa roller jo rnaled iu anarm F', fnlsring F', whichmsy beeither in the form s own'or in norm of senil-spring, or both, 'pressing said arm F' to hold the followerroller in frictionaloontact with the outermost coil f the tape winding on the reel A, said follower-roller extending between the flanges At of the reel without, however, touching the reel to avoid nndne friction. By this arrangement .the springpressed follower prevents uucoiling of that portion of the tape wound on the reel A without, however, exerting any material 'resistance to theennwindlng of the tape when the tape is used inthe usual manner. Itis expresslyunderstood that the roller F exerts sndicient pressure on'` the tape to of vey sti material.

The crank E consists, referably, of -a-plate E', riveted or otherwise' astened to the outer face of the front reel-dange, and on this plate E' is hinged-'an arm E, from which projects at a right angle a. crank-'pin E, adapted to be taken hold of -by the operator for turning the reel when winding or nnwinding the tape. The arm E' is adapted to swing-into an innermost' position and carry the crank-pin E into a transverse recess A, formed in the reel-body A', and this pin Es when in the said --prevent thesame from'ncoiling, even imade ticnlariulportaucefwhen the tape is narrow A `thetape is made .ofjlong' narrow steel, it is Y crumed a't-F to one'end of the .frame B, a

IOO

recess A* is engaged by a spring E4 to hold the pin E8 and its arm E against accidental outward movement. Thus when the crank E is folded it presents no obstruction on the outer face of the reel, and when extended it can be readily taken hold of by the operator to turn the reel and wind up or unwind the tape, as previously mentioned.

One end of the frame D is provided with a handle G,of leather or other suitable material, for conveniently carrying tire reel about, and on the end of the frameD opposite the follower F are secured guide-arms H, fitting against the inner faces of the reel-danges A to steady the reel when winding or unwinding the tape and to prevent the tape or the nnwound por tion thereof from escaping from the reel.

From the foregoing it is evident that the reel is very simple and durable in construction, combines lightness withntility and durability, insures ventilation of the vtape to prevent rust when the tape is wound up wet, and holds the tape automatically against ac cidental uncoilng.

Although the reel is more especially designed for tape of the kind described, it is evident that the reel may be used for winding elastic bands or wires of any kind or for other grooves terminating in the perforations of said flanges, as set forth.

4. A reel-for a tape-measure, comprising a frame, a revoluble spool journaled therein, a normally straight spring-tape free to wind upon and unwind from said spool, a pivoted member provided with a. wheel for engaging the spring-tape, and a resilient member engaging said pvoted member for the purpose of pressing said wheel aga-inst the said springtape.

5. A- reel for a tape-measure, comprising a frame, a revoluble spool journaled therein, a guide mounted upon said frame for steadying said spool, means for rotating said spool, a normally straight spring member free to wind upon 'and to unwind from said spool, a wheel free to roll upon the surface of said spring member and thereby maintain the position of the windings thereof, a pivoted arm carrying said wheel, and an elastic member having a tension opposed to the tension of said normally straight spring member; for the purpose of holding said wheel in engagement with the same.

, 6. A reel fora tape-measure, comprising a frame, a spool journaled therein, means for actuating said spool, a spring-tape free to purposes without deviating from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus fully described our invention we claim as new and desire to secure by Let?l ters Patent- 1. A reel fora tapemeasure,havinga frame, a spool jonrnaled therein, a steel tape winding on said spool, and a springpressed fol-v lower pressing on said tape, to hold the tape from uncoiling, but to allow a comparatively free unwinding from or winding up of the tape on the spool, said follower comprising a roller arranged to engage the tape, an arm fulcrumed on said frame and carrying said roller, and a spring pressing said arm, as set forth.

2. A reel comprising a frame open at one side and carrying av spindle, a fianged reel mounted to tn rn on said spindle, a tape winding on said reel, a spring-pressed frame pressing said tape on the reel, and guide-arms carried on said frame and engaging the flanges 'of the reel on their opposing or inner sides,

as set forth.

3. A reel formed with perforated Iianges, and acylindrcal body havinga series of transwind upon and unwind from said spool and "'tensioned so as to normally unwind therefrom, a wheel Vengaging said tape for the purpose of maintaining the position of the windings thereof, a mov ble arm supporting said wheel, and a resilie t member engaging said movable arm ando tensioned as to oppose the tension of said spring-tape. l

7. A reel for a tape-measure, comprising a frame, a revoluble spool journaled therein, meas for manually actuating said spool in either direction, a resilient spring member free to wind upon andlunwind from said spool and tensioned tonormally unwind from the same by its own elasticity, a member loosely pivoted upon the frame and carrying an antifriction device for engaging the windings of for engaging the pivoted member.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VICTOR GARDINER HILLS. JOHN EDWARD CHAPSON. llgiftnesses:

"1.' HENRY E. llrLLs,

verse grooves in its peripheral surface, said FRANK G.` WILLIS.

said spring member, and a resilient member IOC 

